Avocados Cocina Mexicana & Bar — Restaurant in Florida

Flies, slow service and mediocre food at best all scream one main problem... Poor management. This establishment wiped nearly 2 years of good food and satisfying experiences straight from my memory. It's astonishing to see how such establishment can do that from just one poor visit that only lasted an hour - but they did.

Upon first arrival a group of 4 friends and I were being swarmed with flies right when we sat down at our table (we didn't even have food yet) we weren't alone on this dilemma either... Many other customers in our proximity had the same complaint with one man getting quite agitated.

After our first round of drinks and chips with dip, we didn't see our waiter for some time. It got to the point where every person in the group had to hold their drinks to the sky like we were having one nice long toast - not. After asking 4 times we finally got the manager over. He told us he'd get them to us in just a moment - didn't happen so he was called over yet again and then after getting slightly firm with him he was prompt to get the refills.

The food finally makes it to the table after about 30 minutes of waiting - definitely wasn't meeting expectations that can brew amidst a 30 minute wait. The food temperatures were not consistent some plates scolding hot and others ice cold. One of the plates didn't get crispy tacos as requested but rather soft tacos. 50/50 shot on the tacos and they failed that one.

Nobody finished their food fully and the manager was requested over to the table so we may address some of the opportunities the establishment needs addressed. The manager was rude, ignorant and wasn't willing to understand our concerns with out visit. Rather, he decided to clean up the table quickly and get us our checks with just a 20% discount on it. Unacceptable response to customers with concerns and just shows he decided to take the easy way out.

It's an absolute given I will never think about setting foot in this place ever again and will not hesitate to warn others and notify them of this...

Three friends went with me last night to Habaneros on Manatee Ave. We hadn't been in a while. The food and service has always been good and that hasn't changed. What was disturbing was the location we chose and by the time we realized our mistake, we decided it wasn't worth asking for another table or booth. We had received our drinks, chips and salsa and were waiting on our meals when we realized that servers had gathered directly behind our booth. There were 3-4 of them (my back was to them). Their conversation was loud enough to compete with our table and then one of them playfully hit another. Now they really had our attention. About the time we were ready to ask for the manager, they disappeared so we thought it wasn't worth moving at that point and, quite frankly, since we all turned and looked when the playful hit happened, we thought they understood that they were being disturbing to us and wouldn't be back. Wrong! Soon after we got our meals, they came back in full force...just as loud and even actually leaning over the back of our booth (and shoulders)! I asked the friends that could see the rest of the restaurant if they could see another station that the servers could go to between waiting tables and they couldn't see any. Again, our server, Daniel, was very efficient and friendly and the food was delicious. My warning to possible patrons is to be aware of where you sit. It seems like that particular booth is directly next to where the servers hang out. It was tbe most uncomfortable I've ever been in...

tldr: service was great, food not very good. I would've put 1 star but the service earned a second. We are in town for the week and decided to try this local mexican restaurant. The chips and salsa came quickly, however the salsa had almost no flavor. This is also during COVID and one small bowl of salsa for the table with no serving plates, not a great idea. The chips were warm but again, the salsa was not flavorful and was watery. I ordered steak fajitas and they came in an appropriate amount of time. However, the flavor was terribly bland. Also, the fajitas do not come with guacamole or cheese, and the Pico was not great either. I fixed up my first fajita and ate it, but could not force down another. The meat was chewy, grisly, and had little flavor. The fajita veggies were soggy, and had no flavor either. The waitress was kind and asked if I didn't like them and replaced my meal with cheese enchiladas which were ok. Again, I feel as though the service was great but the food lacked in almost every way. With all of the 4+ star reviews I felt I should write this review, as we decided on this restaurant based on the reviews and this information would've helped us decide to try...